Bob Richey has energetically praised his freshman point guard.

Columbia International is not a prestigious or even widely known men’s basketball program, but Alex Wilkins shone most brightly in a 89-59 victory over Rams on Monday night at Timmons Arena.

Wilkins scored 26 points to lead five Paladins in double figures as Furman claimed its first victory in the newly renovated arena.

“Alex wants to be so good so bad,” Richey said about Wilkins last week. “He is a very talented player, and he’s got some major gifts out there. His fluidity, his vision, his size. He’s not afraid of the lights, not afraid of the moment.

“You know, he’s a beautiful human being, and I love that kid.”

Furman (1-2) held the Rams without a field goal for a stretch of 10:32 in the first half while fashioning a 24-1 run to take control of the game. Five different players scored during the run to help the Paladins build a 29-8 lead on Wilkins’ triple with 8:44 to go in the half as Furman carried a 49-25 lead into the locker room.

Wilkins, a native of Mattapan, Mass., connected on 9/17 shots from the floor and all four of his free-throw attempts to lead the way for the Paladins while fellow freshman Abijah Franklin and junior Cooper Bowser scored 11 points each. Asa Thomas scored 10 points off the bench and senior Charles Johnston posted his second “double double” of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Furman shot just .443 but outscored CIU 38-16 in the paint and compiled 21 second-chance points off 21 offensive rebounds on its way to a 51-26 advantage on the glass. The Paladins, who forced 14 turnovers, turned the CIU miscues into 20 points.

Will Kelly paced the Rams (0-1) with 18 points on a 7/9 effort at the line. The Paladins limited Columbia International to .385 shooting from the field, including just .250 from three-point range to improve to 3-0 all-time versus the Rams.

Furman returns to action on Friday when it travels to Cedar Falls, Iowa, to face the Northern Iowa Panthers. Tip-off at the McLeod Center is set for 7 p.m. EST, and the game will be streamed live on ESPN+.

Take a look at the stats here.

Roles were reversed in Nashville, Tenn., where Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda scored 16 points and headed up a parade of six double figure scores to ignited hot-shooting AP 19th-ranked Vanderbilt to a 96-48 victory over Furman at Memorial Gymnasium.

Mikayla Blakes scored 15 points, Justine Pissott added 14, Aiyana Mitchell 12, Aubrey Galvin 11 and Jada Brown 10 points for the Commodores, who shot a sizzling .571 (37/66), including .656 (21/32) in the second half.

Alyssa Ervin tied for game-high scoring honors with 16 points to lead Furman (1-2), connecting on 4/9 attempts from three-point range. Raina McGowens finished with 10 points for the Paladins.

Vanderbilt’s pressure defense contributed to 28 Furman turnovers, which the Commodores converted into 41 points. Vanderbilt (2-0) outscored Furman 50-14 in the paint.

The Paladins shot just .333 (17/51) and were outrebounded 57-28.

Furman returns home to face Georgia State on Thursday in a 7 p.m. contest at Timmons Arena.

Take a look at the stats here.

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